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Mercadona is bringing back Sunday opening at hundreds of stores across Spain for the summer in a move that will make life easier for holidaymakers and locals in busy coastal areas.

 

Spain’s favourite supermarket chain has confirmed it will temporarily change opening hours in around 320 stores from June 22 until August 30, focusing mainly on locations that see a sharp rise in visitor numbers during the summer months.

 

During this period, affected supermarkets will stay open from 9am until 10pm on weekdays, slightly longer than the usual closing time of 9.30pm. The biggest change, however, is the return of Sunday trading in selected areas, something Mercadona normally avoids for most of the year.

 

In these tourist-heavy locations, stores will open on Sunday mornings and remain open until 3pm, giving shoppers more flexibility during weekends when many people are travelling, arriving at holiday homes or stocking up for the week ahead.

 

The company said the decision reflects how shopping habits change during the summer in Spain, with more people spending long days at the beach, going on trips or returning home later in the day, meaning demand shifts towards later and more flexible opening times.

 

Mercadona, chaired by Juan Roig, has traditionally defended its Sunday closures as part of its commitment to employee rest and work-life balance. However, it regularly makes exceptions during peak tourist season in areas where demand increases significantly.

 

The changes will mainly affect supermarkets in coastal and high-traffic holiday destinations, including towns in the Valencian Community such as Cullera, Benidorm, Dénia, Jávea, and Orihuela Costa. Other popular tourist spots such as Marbella, Ibiza, Salou, Lloret de Mar and Sanxenxo are also included in the summer schedule.

 

Not every Mercadona store in Spain will be affected, with the company operating more than 1,600 supermarkets nationwide. It has advised customers to check opening times in advance using its online store locator, as hours will vary depending on location.

 

For many expats and holidaymakers, the return of Sunday opening in key tourist areas is likely to be a welcome change, especially during the busiest weeks of the Spanish summer when even a quick supermarket run can be tightly timed around beach trips, travel days and late evenings.

 

Image: Mercadona